Disciplining the Soul by Imam Ibn al-Jawzi – Islamic Book on Self-Control, Tazkiyah & Spiritual Purification Guide

Disciplining the Soul is a classical masterpiece that focuses on controlling the النفس (nafs) and refining character through Islamic teachings. Written by Imam Ibn al-Jawzi, the book explains how natural human desires—if left unchecked—can lead to spiritual harm, and how balance is essential for a righteous life.

It provides practical guidance on overcoming negative traits such as anger, greed, and arrogance, while developing positive qualities like patience, humility, and sincerity. This book is ideal for anyone seeking self-improvement, spiritual awareness, and inner discipline.

From Author:

In this work, the author explains that human nature contains both الخير and الشر, and the key to success lies in controlling and disciplining the النفس. He emphasizes that desires such as anger and appetite are not evil in themselves, but when left unchecked, they lead to harm and distance from Allah.

The author highlights that true success comes from achieving balance in the soul, where a person controls their desires and aligns their actions with divine guidance. He identifies various spiritual diseases and provides practical steps to overcome them through self-awareness, discipline, and sincerity.

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DAR AS SUNNAH CLASSIC COLLECTION DISCIPLINING THE SOUL Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 AH)
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CHAPTER THREE The Difference Between the Perspective of Mind and the Perspective of Hawa...... CHAPTER FOUR Averting Passionate Love (Ishq)...... ...26 .28 CHAPTER FIVE Averting Gluttony (Sharah)... .31 Section One:Excessive Eating........... .32 Section Two: Excessive Sexual Appetite.. .32 Section Three: Hoarding Wealth....... .33 .34 Section Four: Extravagance..... CHAPTER SIX Refusing to take a Position of Authority in this World... CHAPTER SEVEN Averting Stinginess.......... CHAPTER EIGHT Prohibition on Squandering... CHAPTER NINE Elucidation on the Amount of Earnings and Expenditure.................................. CHAPTER TEN Dispraise of Lying... .35 .37 .40 .41 .42
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THE BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR al-Hafiz Abu'l-Faraj 'Abdu'l-Rahman ibn Jawzi His Name and Lineage He is Abu'l-Faraj Jamal al-Din 'Abdu'l-Rahman ibn 'Ali ibn Muhammad ibn 'Ali Ibn 'Ubayd Allah Ibn al-Jawzi al-Qurashi al- Tamimi al-Bakri from the family of Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr al- Siddiq, al-Baghdadi al-Hanbali.1 His Birth and Upbringing He was born in 509 or 510 A.H. Upon reaching adolescence, his aunt took him to Ibn Naşir from whom he learned a great deal. He came to love preaching while barely having reached the age of puberty, and from then started to give sermons to the peo- ple. His father passed away when he was three years old so his aunt 1 Thail al-Raudatain, p.21, al-Bidayah wa'l-Nihayah, p. 13/26. 12
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DISCIPLINING THE SOUL Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 AH) Know that all the facets of mankind's disposition are for their benefit- either directly such as the desire for food, or indirectly by preventing harm, such as the capacity for anger. However, when these natural impulses are not moderated it culminates in harm. If the desire for food is excessive it leads to gluttony. Similarly when anger is uncontrolled it leads to transgression. The aim should be to achieve equilibrium of the soul, to allow the faithful to approach God without distraction. The author addresses many spiritual diseases - such as envy, greed, uncontrolled lust, sexual desire, arrogance, gluttony, anger, stinginess, extravagance, vanity and attachment to this world. He also discusses the qualities that the seeker of God must acquire such as love, self discipline, humility, self-criticism, improvement of character, patience and truthfulness. In a simple yet effective way he shows the wayfarers how to cure their spiritual diseases and acquire the necessary qualities for their journey to Allah. This masterpiece has been divided into thirty chapters to facilitate the reader's comprehension. Important points are highlighted using anecdotes from the early righteous predecessors. The author, Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 AH), was an learned scholar possessing extensive knowledge. While still young he became known as someone who was religious and given to learning. He would not waste his time in idle activities and would scrupulously avoid any food whose source was doubtful. He was a great preacher and his fame was widespread; many people repented and accepted Islam at his hands. He was also a prolific writer and authored over one thousand works encompassing a multitude of Islamic disciplines and sciences. لسنة Visit us www.darassunnah.com ISBN-13: 978-1-904336-34-1 ISBN-10: 1-904336-34-5 Day as-Sunnah Publishers P.O. Box 9818, Birmingham, B11 4WA, United Kingdom. E-mail: info@darassunnah.com www.darassunnah.com Copyright by Dar as-Sunnah Publishers 9781904 336341">

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• Ibn Al Jawzi

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Page : 01
DAR AS SUNNAH CLASSIC COLLECTION DISCIPLINING THE SOUL Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 AH)
Page : 02
CHAPTER THREE The Difference Between the Perspective of Mind and the Perspective of Hawa...... CHAPTER FOUR Averting Passionate Love (Ishq)...... ...26 .28 CHAPTER FIVE Averting Gluttony (Sharah)... .31 Section One:Excessive Eating........... .32 Section Two: Excessive Sexual Appetite.. .32 Section Three: Hoarding Wealth....... .33 .34 Section Four: Extravagance..... CHAPTER SIX Refusing to take a Position of Authority in this World... CHAPTER SEVEN Averting Stinginess.......... CHAPTER EIGHT Prohibition on Squandering... CHAPTER NINE Elucidation on the Amount of Earnings and Expenditure.................................. CHAPTER TEN Dispraise of Lying... .35 .37 .40 .41 .42
Page : 03
THE BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR al-Hafiz Abu'l-Faraj 'Abdu'l-Rahman ibn Jawzi His Name and Lineage He is Abu'l-Faraj Jamal al-Din 'Abdu'l-Rahman ibn 'Ali ibn Muhammad ibn 'Ali Ibn 'Ubayd Allah Ibn al-Jawzi al-Qurashi al- Tamimi al-Bakri from the family of Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr al- Siddiq, al-Baghdadi al-Hanbali.1 His Birth and Upbringing He was born in 509 or 510 A.H. Upon reaching adolescence, his aunt took him to Ibn Naşir from whom he learned a great deal. He came to love preaching while barely having reached the age of puberty, and from then started to give sermons to the peo- ple. His father passed away when he was three years old so his aunt 1 Thail al-Raudatain, p.21, al-Bidayah wa'l-Nihayah, p. 13/26. 12
Page : 04
DISCIPLINING THE SOUL Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 AH) Know that all the facets of mankind's disposition are for their benefit- either directly such as the desire for food, or indirectly by preventing harm, such as the capacity for anger. However, when these natural impulses are not moderated it culminates in harm. If the desire for food is excessive it leads to gluttony. Similarly when anger is uncontrolled it leads to transgression. The aim should be to achieve equilibrium of the soul, to allow the faithful to approach God without distraction. The author addresses many spiritual diseases - such as envy, greed, uncontrolled lust, sexual desire, arrogance, gluttony, anger, stinginess, extravagance, vanity and attachment to this world. He also discusses the qualities that the seeker of God must acquire such as love, self discipline, humility, self-criticism, improvement of character, patience and truthfulness. In a simple yet effective way he shows the wayfarers how to cure their spiritual diseases and acquire the necessary qualities for their journey to Allah. This masterpiece has been divided into thirty chapters to facilitate the reader's comprehension. Important points are highlighted using anecdotes from the early righteous predecessors. The author, Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 AH), was an learned scholar possessing extensive knowledge. While still young he became known as someone who was religious and given to learning. He would not waste his time in idle activities and would scrupulously avoid any food whose source was doubtful. He was a great preacher and his fame was widespread; many people repented and accepted Islam at his hands. He was also a prolific writer and authored over one thousand works encompassing a multitude of Islamic disciplines and sciences. لسنة Visit us www.darassunnah.com ISBN-13: 978-1-904336-34-1 ISBN-10: 1-904336-34-5 Day as-Sunnah Publishers P.O. Box 9818, Birmingham, B11 4WA, United Kingdom. E-mail: info@darassunnah.com www.darassunnah.com Copyright by Dar as-Sunnah Publishers 9781904 336341">